The Tradition of textual exegesis is unique to all schools of Indian Philosophy. Each school possesses a rich legacy of texts written over a period of centuries that has been preserved through an unbroken chain of teachers and disciples. These thinkers have produced several texts that shed light not only on the fundamental tenets of those schools but also on the complex articulation of the nuances relating to metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and so on. The textual tradition not only flows down through the original texts but also through commentaries, showing different features of their development.

        In order to have an in-depth understanding of the texts, it is necessary to have acquaintance with the texts and their interpretations. This will not only familiarize a student with the primary sources of the system but also decisively resolve the ambiguities and misconceptions that are likely to arise because of the dependence only on secondary sources. All the systems have undergone a period of evolution during which they had to face very powerful criticisms from other systems of thought. However, such criticisms have forced the respective schools to evolve a logical boundary around them to make it more rigorous and profound. There were two important reasons for such engagement:

1. To show the non-dogmatic growth of that particular school, and
2. Preservation of dynamism, giving space for the further development of the school preventing     from possible stagnation.

        Human reasoning and scriptural authority have always been given their due place in all these schools and understood properly, these schools can interact with and carve a niche for themselves among the leading philosophies of the world.

        The course aims at acquainting the student with the deeper tenets of Nyaya, Mimamsa, and Advaita Vedanta showing the complexities of their nuances by means of the study of the original texts. It intends to outline the historical development of the schools from the early period of their growth to the modern times. The course will broadly deal with three schools of Indian philosophy through the study of five important texts in the introductory and advanced levels.

        Introductory Texts

                1. Tarka-sangraha of Annambhatta
                2. Mimamsaparibhasha of Srikrishnayajvan
                3. Vedantaparibhasha of Dharmaraja

        Advanced Texts

                4. Bhamati-catussutri of Vacaspati
                5. Vedanta-sangraha of Ramarayakavi